Answer:
The answer for the x would be 20.25 ft.
Explanation:
Check the underlined writing for the 2nd easier and more efficient method
The area is 9 ft.^2, and area means length*width=area. So, if you were to multiply 4.5*2 that would equal 9, which is the area of the smaller rectangle.
Now use scale factor. If the length of the smaller rectangle is 2, you need to see how many times 2 can fit into 9. 9/2 equals 4.5, then you would multiply 4.5 by 4.5 to get 20.5 to get the width of the rectangle.
If you want to check, put 2/4.5 and 9/20.25 and you both get 0.444....= 4/9
Which means that they both have the same scale
Okay, there is a much easier method I didn't realize, the butterfly method. After you find the length and width of the smaller rectange, you can cross multiply.
2/4.5 = 9/x. (keep the numbers in line, for example both of the lengths stay in the numerator) So 9*4.5 equals 40.5, and 2*x equals 2x. Use basic algebra (divide everything by 2) and you get x=20.25 as well. This solution is much more reliable.
Hope this helps!